Furnace.



W. W. WHITTON.

FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED IUNEZI, 1916.

Patented Apr. 10, 191?.

Wzilhmm W Whwm Amm . coming salivated. Another object of the in- WILLIAM W. 'WHITTON, OF'OAKLAND, CALFORNIEA FURNCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led .Tune 21, 1916. Serial No. 104,876.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, YVILLIAM W. WHIT- 'roN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Furnaces, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an ore roasting furnace and fume condenser.

Y One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a simple, substantial, cheaply manufactured furnace and condenser which is particularly adapted. for roasting ores or substances containing Vola- -tile metals such as quicksilver, zinc, etc., and

which is so constructed that continuous operation, and practically perfect extraction, may be obtained without the employment of skilled furnacemen or operators and without subjecting the mento the danger of bevention is to provide a roasting furnace in which variation of the furnace temperatures will have little or' no effect as far as exitraction is concerned and in which losses by absorption are entirely eliminated.

The invention further consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed,'having reference to the accompanying drawings in whichn Flgure l 1s a central, vertical, longltudl- `nal section through the furnace.

Fig.y 2 is a plan section on line 2 2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the retort inclosing plates.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged central vertical section of one of the retort tubes.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A in dicates in general a furnace constructed of brick and suitably lined to resist high temperatures; 2 the fire-box and 3 a main heating chamber which is provided for the reception of a plurality of retort tubes generally indicated at B.

Extending across the main chamber 3 are a plurality of superposed frames 4, which are provided for the purpose of uniformly distributing the heat from the lire-box about the retort tubes before escaping through the flue indicated at 5, which may be connected with a stack not here shown. Each frame t consists of an iron grating, see Fig. 2, provided with a plurality of staggered rectangular shaped openings. rlhese openlngs are provided for the purpose of permitting v the insertion of the individual retort tubes and also to permit the same to be readilyr removed when they are to be renewed orfor other purposes. d Referring to Fig. retort inclosing plate is provided withlus 6 which are so positoned as to engage t "e" inner sides of the rectangular' openings formed in the grate bar or frame 4, the position of the plates being shown in Fig. 2. rlfwo plates are required for each retort tube and these plates, when placed in position 3,'it willbe'seen that a` Patented apnic, mit.

about the tubes, form a kperfect covering for each grate bar or frame 4 and thus p revent the hot furnace gases from escaping up through thev grate bars around the tubes.

rllhe furnace gases coming from the nre-bor.

will'thus travel in the direction indicated 'by arrow a, through the staggered tubes,

then up through an end-flue 7, which communicates with a horizontal passage or Hue 8 formed between the frames and 4?. .The gases, after passing through this passage are deflected in an upward direction through an end flue 9 and are nally per-- mitted to escape through an upper flue l0 and the communicating discharge flue 5 before` they are permitted to escape to the stack., The staggered position of the several retort tubes furthermore distributes the furnace gases and this arrangement, together with the position of the severalflues shown, permits an even and uniform heatu ing of the tubes. Forming a closure for the upper end ofthe main chamber 3 is a pair of frames l1 and 12. f'llhese frames maybe constructed similar to the frames 4- or as hereshown, and are preferably separated a suficient distance to permit the formation of an air chamber 13 to prevent escape or radiation of heat through the upper end of the furnace. Each individual retort tube'is provided with a collar 14e at-its upper end and these collars in turn provide means for supporting the individual tubes against Aendwise movement through the frames ll. and

,12 and the frames t and 491. ln other words,

it will be seen that each individual tube is hung or suspended from the upper frame l2 by means of the collars la V and that their vertical position is maintained by means of the frames and 'the inclosipgI plates 6. Formed on each collar arev two or more upwardly projecting arms 15 and a perfo rated hub member 16. Extending through each hub member and the alined retort tube is a pipe 17. fuEach pipe -is centrally positioned with relation to the retort tube through which it passes and is sufficiently nace A is an ore-bin 24, the bottom of which` retort tubes and the ore thus delivered to- 'permitted to escapeethrough the long to extend a considerable .distance above and below the individual retort tubes. Each pipe 17 is capped as at 18 at the upper end and each pipe 17 is perforated as.at 19 along its entire length for purposes hereinafter to be described. Forming a bottom for the main chamber 3 is a frame' 20. This frame is preferably constructed in a .manner similar to that described in connection wlth the frames '1 and is also 'provided with remo'vable plates 6 to prevent admission of air at this point. Mounted below the bottom frame 20 is a plate 21 and mounted below said plate is an inclose'd tank 22, which is partly filled with water. The lower ends of the individual pipes 17 are .connected with the upper end of this tank and the tank is in turn connected through a pipe 23 with` a suitable form of condenser and-a suction blower 51. Mounted on top of the furis formed by the frame 12 and the open ended retort tubes B. The ore delivered to the bin 24 is permitted to fill the individual vidual retorttubes charged with ore, it will be seen that the -hot furnace gases will travel in the direction indicated by the arrows through the main chamber 3 with connected lues beforethey "are permitted to escape through the discharge flue 5. The several tubes are thus uniformly heated from the bottom Ato the top and in actual practice an approximate cherry-red heat is mainta` ed.

The ore contents of the retort tubes arel hus.

heated to an ideal temperature and the vola'- tile minerals contained therein are freed'and rforations 19 formed in the central pipe 17,1this being caused by the suction) roduced by the condenserI and blower` whic communicates with 'theindividual'pipes 17 through pipe contained therein. I 'proportion of'the products' are here con- 23 and tank 22. -The liberated volatile produts are lthus drawn directl e 22, where they strike thesur ace ofthe water A comparatively -large densed and permitted to settle in the form of\a pure metal while the remaining products are drawn through the pipe 23 where i they are finally precipitated in the condenser.

. By drawing off the mercury or other gases distilled from the ore, it will be seen that a lproducts of the ore.

into the -tank` comparatively small volume .of gas is handled. It is therefore possible to use a small and simple form of condensing unit, something not possible when comparing the device with the shaft furnaces now in common use. In the operation of most forms of stack furnaces, it mustlbe taken into consideration that the volatile contents of the ore are distilled by the heat obtained from the furnace gases, and that the liberated gases are mixed with the' furnace gases. There thus results a very large volume of heated gas, all of which must be reduced to a low temperature to allow the liberated volatile metals to condense. It has been found by practical 'experence,'that these furnacegases must'be cooled to a temperature, particularly where Cinnabar ores are treated, below the boiling point or mercury and also that it is practically impossible'to catch more than ninety per cent. of themercury in the ore in the best type of condensers, and as the furnaces are commonly operated, only about seventyfive per cent. of the mercury is "caught in the condenser. One reason for the difiiculty in condensing the mercury is the extreme .dilution of the gases "as regards mercury.

This permits particles of mercury of molecular fineness, to be carried through the condenser, even by the most lgentle air current. A second reason for the difficulty in securing condensation of themercury is the nature of the gases from which it is to' be condensed. The furnacey gases not only contain the ordinary products of combustion from Wood. and oil fuel but also the volatile Cinnabar, the sullid of mercury from which Quicksilver -is obtained, sets -free sulfur when it is reduced to metallic mercury. lllt also happens that the majority of Cinnabar ores, almost without an exception', contail sulfid of iron and other metals, which sulfids set free sulfur which is oxidized by the oxygen of the air, thus producing sulfurous or sulfuric acid, both of'which are very` corrosive. It is therefore necessary to construct condensing apparatus of the flue-cooling type, such as are ordi'- narily used in connection with shaft fur- .naces of material that will withstand the action oftheseY acids and the only material 'that has been found to successfully withstand this action for any reasonable length of time is brick. While brick is ordinarily used as a heat insulating material, it -is here used in-the construction of chambers which are supposed to reduce the'heat of the gases passing through them. It follows therefore, that these condensing chambersas used in connection with the ordinary shaft furnaces, are of enormous size and expensive construction. -1

lThe amount of air admitted to a furnace of-the shaft type and whiclhegasses through condensers, such as descri is governed-1 by the needs of the fuel employed, rather than by the more proper need of carrying olf the mercury and other volatile constituents of the ore. lt therefore follows that the furnace on the shaft type with connected condensers, requires the attention of expert and experienced furnace men and operators to produce anything approaching a high extraction.

With a furnace constructed as shown in the present instance, the products of comy bustion are not brought into direct contact with the ore nor 1s the ore raised to a temperature which will liberate the injurious gases having the corrosive nature, as previously described. By drawing off the mercury or other gases distilled from the ore, a comparatively small amount of gas to be condensed is produced and it is furthermore possible, to regulate the amount of gases so drawn into the condensers independently of the needs of the fire. The small amount of corrosive gases produced are immediately drawn out and brought into contact with the Water contained in the tank 22. The corrosive substances are thus immediately removed and the life and general eiciency of the furnace increased. rlhemamount of heat used in 'my furnacekis governed entirely by the need of raising the ore in the retort tubes to the proper temperature. This temperature i-n actual practice is approximately a dull red and the condition of the tubes may be observed at all times through doors formed in the ends or at other convenient points around the furnace. Any uctuation in the furnace temperature will therefore have little or no effect as far as the extraction is concerned. The ore. settling through the tubes from the bin 9.4 may be continuously removed from the lower ends by the use of a rake or a slice bar passed overk the plate 21. The treated ore is in this manner discharged on either side of the furnacel and may be removed in i cars or otherwise\ disposed. Secured on the lower end of each tube is a ring 1x0 in which is formed a'n eye 4Gb adapted to receive a rod'orlever 40. These rods may be grasped from time to time and jerked sidewise a sufficient distance to turn the tubes or vi brate the same sufliciently to dislodge any ore that might have a tendency to hang back or choke 4the tubes. The perforations 19 formed in the pipes are preferably inclined in an upwardV and inward direction as shown, to prevent admission of ore. and perforations 19 are also provided at the lower ends of the retort tubes to permit ad.- mission of furnace gases or air for the purpose of oxidizing and increasing the temperature of the ore before it is finally permitted to discharge through the lower ends. Practicallyospeaking, complete extraction of the volatile products is in this manner possible..

A. continuous operation is furthermore permitted and the furnace may be operated as a whole, without the attention of skilled furnace-men or without subjecting said men to the danger of becoming salivated. The provision of the grate bar shaped frames and the cooperating cover section-6 permits the individual tubes to be readily removed when desired, the openings in the grate bar frames being sufficiently large to extract the tubes even in cases where they are considerably twisted orwarped by the effect of the furnace heat.

The materials and -nish of the several parts of the invention may be such as the judgment and experience of the manufacturer may dictate.

wish it understood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims, and that l do not wish to limit myself to the specific design and construction here shown.

Having this described my invention, what l Aclaim and desire to secure by Letters Patent isy l. In an ore roasting furnace, a main heating chamber and a fire-box, a plurality of open ended Y retort tubes extending through the heating chamber, a perforated pipe extending through each retort tube and means connecting said pipes with a condenser, means for retaining the ore inthe retort tubes while being heated, and said means permitting removal of the heated ore from the lower open end of the retort tubes without removing said perforated pipe.

2. ln an ore roasting furnace. a main` tubes extending through the heating chamber andthe rectangular openings formed in the frames, a pair of inclosing plates fitting each rectangular shaped opening to form a closure around each tube, a fixed perforated pipe extending through each retort tube and means connecting said pipes with a conf denser.

1i. lin an ore roasting furnace, a main heating chamber and a fire box, a plurality of open ended retort tubes extendlng through the heating chamber, a perforated pipe extending through each retort tube, means conliti@ necting said pipes with a condenser, an ore bin surrounding the upper open ends of the retort tubes to permit a continuous delivery of ore', and a receiving plate spaced from, and mounted below, the lower open ends of the tubes.

; In an ore roasting furnace, a main heating chamber and a fire-box, a plurality of frames, eachhaving a plurality of rectangular openings formed therein, a plurality of open ended retort tubes extending through the heating chamber and the rectangular openings formed in the frames,-a pair of inclosing plates fitting each rectangular shaped opening to form a closure around each tube, an ore bin surrounding the upper open ends of the retort tubes to permit a continuous delivery of ore, and a receiving plate spaced from, and mounted below, the lower open ends of the tubes.

6. In an ore roasting furnace, a main p heating 'chamber and a lire-box, a plurality of frames, each havinga plurality of rectangular openings formed therein, a plurality of open ended retort tubes 'extending through the heating chamber and the rectangular openings o pair of inclosing plates fitting each rectangular shaped opening to forma closure around each tube, a perforated pipe extending through each retort tube, means connecting said pipes with a condenser, an ore bin surroundmg the upper open ends of the retort tubes to permit a`- continuous delivery of ore, and a receiving plate spaced from, andmounted below, the lower openends of the tubes.

7. In an ore roasting furnace, a main heating chamber and a fire box, a plurality of open ended retort tubesextendlng into the heating chamber within a short distance of rmed in the frames, a

. scribin'g witnesses.

the bottom thereof, a perforated ipipe extending through each retort tube, a waterY i,

containing tank with which the lower ends of the pipes are connected and -a condenser including a suction blowerconnected with the tank. p

8. In an ore roasting furnace, a main heating chamber and a fire-box, a plurality of frames, each having a plurality of staggered rectangular openings formed therein1 a4 plurality of removably mounted open ended retort tubes extending through the heating chamber and the rectangular openings formed in the frames, a pair of inclosing plates fitting each rectangular shaped opening to form a closure around each tube,

a perforated pipe extending through each i ore-bin and the lower end of the cylinder disposed above a floor or plate and spaced therefrom, which Hoor'or plate forms the only support for the material undergoing roasting within the cylinder.

In testimony whereof- I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two sub- WILLIAM W. WHITTON. i

Witnesses: I JOHN H. HERR1NG,:-

W. W. HEALEY. 

